scholarly journals Forage-Fed Insects as Food and Feed Source: Opportunities and Constraints of Edible Insects in the Tropics

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Andrea Espitia Buitrago ◽  
Luis Miguel Hernández ◽  
Stefan Burkart ◽  
Neil Palmer ◽  
Juan Andrés Cardoso Arango
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Tropical Forages ◽  
Insects As Food ◽  
The Tropics

Farmed insects can provide an alternative protein source for humans, livestock, and fish, while supporting adaptation to climate change, generating income for smallholder farmers, and reducing the negative impacts of conventional food production, especially in the tropics. However, the quantity, nutritional quality and safety of insects greatly relies on their feed intake. Tropical forages (grasses and legumes) can provide a valuable and yet untapped source of feed for several farmed insect species. In this perspective paper, we provide a viewpoint of how tropical forages can support edible insect production. We also highlight the potential of tropical forage-based diets over those using organic agricultural or urban by-product substrates, due to their versatility, low cost, and lower risk of microbial and chemical hazards. The main bottlenecks relate to dependence on the small number of farmed insect species, and in public policy and market frameworks regarding the use of edible insects as food, feed and in industrial processes. This perspective will serve interested stakeholders in identifying urgent issues at the research, ethical, marketing and policy levels that can prevent the emergence of new, insect-based value chains and business models, and the nutritional, economic and environmental benefits they promise.

scholarly journals Consumers’ Attitudes Facing Entomophagy: Polish Case Perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Orkusz ◽  
Wioletta Wolańska ◽  
Joanna Harasym ◽  
Arkadiusz Piwowar ◽  
Magdalena Kapelko
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Psychological Barriers ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
Meat Substitute ◽  
Willingness To Adopt ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
Insects As Food

Based on high nutritional value and low production costs, edible insects are an excellent and sustainable source of animal proteins. However, completely replacing meat with edible insects requires a change in consumer mentality not only in Poland, but also in other European countries. In western countries, most people reject eating insects, mainly for cultural reasons. Concerning this, the objective of the study was to examine the knowledge, behavior, and attitudes of the Polish community about edible insects and to understand the main factors driving edible insect consumption. The study was held at the Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, Poland and consisted of two parts: The survey (among 464 students) and the tasting session (among 402 participants). The main findings suggest that there is low willingness to adopt edible insects as a meat substitute among Polish students due to the psychological barriers, such as neophobia and disgust. However, the willingness to eat processed insect food (bread, biscuit) is far higher than for unprocessed whole insects. Environmental benefits are the factors that least affected students’ willingness to try edible insects. Additionally, the tasting session of the bread with powdered insects was attended by the vast majority of participants, which indicates that a positive sensory experience can improve the acceptability of insects as food.

scholarly journals Education as a key to promoting insects as food

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 949-953
Author(s):  
B.A. Rumpold ◽  
A. van Huis
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Educational Materials ◽  
Potential Alternative ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Insects As Food ◽  
Production Industry

Children in tropical countries have always eaten insects but are now often discouraged from doing so. Recently, the idea of the consumption of insects has been re-introduced as an answer to malnutrition since edible insects are a potential alternative and sustainable protein and food source. However, in countries where the consumption of insects is not traditional, there is a lack of acceptance as well as skills when it comes to preparing a meal with insects. Examples of experiments from different parts of the world are given, where children in schools are educated about the nutritional and environmental benefits of eating insects. In general, after the experience, children are more positive about the idea of eating insects. It is stipulated that insects as food could be a very good entry point for the discussion about our future food supply. Furthermore, with the increasing commercial production of edible insects, there is an increasing demand for skilled workers in the insect production industry. Essential to the promotion of insect consumption are the development of curricula and educational materials for vocational education, training of insect farmers, and general education in primary and secondary schools as well as tertiary education.

Mini Livestock Ranching

2017 ◽  
pp. 188-212
Author(s):  
Dimple Singh-Ackbarali ◽  
Rohanie Maharaj
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Protein Food ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Insects As Food ◽  
Nutritional Profiles

The rising demand and cost of animal protein, food and feed insecurity, environmental and climatic challenges of livestock agriculture have made the option of insects as food sources a viable topic. This chapter presents existing information and research on edible insects, insect farms and value-added insect products and assesses insects as a potential source of food and feed. Mini livestock ranching where edible insect species are reared, can reduce some of the negative environmental effects of livestock agriculture as it will produce significantly less greenhouse gas emissions compared with traditional livestock and have similar nutritional profiles. Edible insect species also; have a much lower feed to meat ratio, require small areas of land and have an almost negligible water requirement. There is an untapped potential to increase access to this nutritious, climate-smart food via intensified semi-cultivation and raising insects in farming environments, developing value added products and also a potential for a significant source of income.

The nutritional role of insects as food: a case study of ‘chitoumou’ (Cirina butyrospermi), an edible caterpillar in rural Burkina Faso

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Cox ◽  
C. Payne ◽  
A. Badolo ◽  
R. Attenborough ◽  
C. Milbank
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Cooking Process ◽  
Insects As Food ◽  
Few Data ◽  
Dietary Data

Insects are frequently promoted as a nutritious food. Yet they are a diverse class, and few data are available on their dietary role. In this paper, we present novel data on the nutritional role of ‘chitoumou’, the edible caterpillar Cirina butyrospermi, in the diet of rural smallholder farmers in southwestern Burkina Faso. We collected detailed dietary data via 24-h recall interviews (n=64), which we conducted with women who were predominantly responsible for making decisions on food preparation for their households (n=16) during and out of caterpillar season. We found that ethnicity did not predict caterpillar consumption. Diets that contained caterpillars were richer in protein (P<0.05) and calcium (P<0.05), key nutrients for combating malnutrition in this region. We conclude that edible insects play an important nutritional role among smallholder communities in southwestern Burkina Faso, but that more data are required to confirm the bioavailability of nutrients found in caterpillars, the effect of the cooking process on caterpillar nutritional quality and consequent health outcomes for people that consume them. To inform policy and the way in which insects are promoted as food, it is imperative that further research is done to quantify the nutritional role of edible insects in current human diets.

Mini Livestock Ranching

2018 ◽  
pp. 278-302
Author(s):  
Dimple Singh-Ackbarali ◽  
Rohanie Maharaj
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Protein Food ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Insects As Food ◽  
Nutritional Profiles

The rising demand and cost of animal protein, food and feed insecurity, environmental and climatic challenges of livestock agriculture have made the option of insects as food sources a viable topic. This chapter presents existing information and research on edible insects, insect farms and value-added insect products and assesses insects as a potential source of food and feed. Mini livestock ranching where edible insect species are reared, can reduce some of the negative environmental effects of livestock agriculture as it will produce significantly less greenhouse gas emissions compared with traditional livestock and have similar nutritional profiles. Edible insect species also; have a much lower feed to meat ratio, require small areas of land and have an almost negligible water requirement. There is an untapped potential to increase access to this nutritious, climate-smart food via intensified semi-cultivation and raising insects in farming environments, developing value added products and also a potential for a significant source of income.

Determination of fatty acid content in some edible insects of Mexico

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Pino Moreno ◽  
A. Ganguly
Keyword(s):  
Oleic Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Acid Content ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Fatty Acid Content ◽  
Capric Acid ◽  
Caproic Acid ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Edible Insects

In the present paper we have determined the fatty acid content of some edible insects of Mexico. A comparative analysis of the insect species studied in this research showed that caproic acid was present in a minimal proportion which ranged between 0.01 for Periplaneta americana (nymphs) and 0.06 (g/100 g, dry basis) for Euschistus strenuus. The highest proportion of caprilic acid (0.09) was found in Tenebrio molitor (adults). Atta sp. had the highest amount of capric acid (0.26). Polistes sp. was found to be rich in lauric acid (0.77) and for myristic acid it had the highest content (5.64). Dactylopius sp. and E. strenuus were rich in palmitic acid (14.89). Euschistus taxcoensis had the highest quantity of palmitoleic acid (12.06). Llaveia axin exhibited the highest quantity of stearic acid (22.75). Polistes sp. was found to be rich in oleic acid (38.28). The highest quantity of linoleic acid was observed in T. molitor (larvae) (10.89), and in L. axin the highest content of linolenic acid (7.82) was obtained. A comparison between the species under the present investigation revealed that, in general, the insects are poor in caproic, caprilic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitoleic and linolenic acids, because the quantities were either minimal or could not be detected at all. They had moderate quantities of stearic, palmitic and linoleic acids and had high quantities of oleic acid. Finally it was concluded that although a particular insect species is unable to fulfil the total fatty acid need for a human, if consumed in combination they could definitely be able to supply a good amount of this highly valued nutrient.

scholarly journals Product-Service Systems and Sustainability: Analysing the Environmental Impacts of Rental Clothing

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2118
Author(s):  
Emma Johnson ◽  
Andrius Plepys
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Service Systems ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Product Service ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Environmental Savings ◽  
Product Service Systems

Business models like product-service systems (PSSs) often recognise different sustainability goals and are seen as solutions for the impacts of consumption and fast fashion, but there is a lack of evidence supporting the environmental claims of such business models for clothing. The research aimed to understand if rental clothing business models such as PSSs have the environmental benefits often purported by quantifying the environmental impacts of rental formal dresses in a life-cycle assessment (LCA) in a case study in Stockholm, Sweden. The effects of varying consumer behaviour on the potential impact of a PSS vs. linear business model are explored through three functional units and 14 consumption scenarios. How users decide to engage with clothing PSSs dictates the environmental savings potential that a PSS can have, as shown in how many times consumers wear garments, how they use rental to substitute their purchasing or use needs, as well as how consumers travel to rental store locations.

scholarly journals No Way, That’s Gross! How Public Exposure Therapy Can Overcome Disgust Preventing Consumer Adoption of Sustainable Food Alternatives

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1380
Author(s):  
Jan Andre Koch ◽  
Jan Willem Bolderdijk ◽  
Koert van Ittersum
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Alternative Strategy ◽  
Consumer Acceptance ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Consumer Adoption ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
The Social ◽  
Public Exposure ◽  
Main Barrier ◽  
Promising Avenue

Two prominently discussed sustainable food alternatives—lab-meat and edible insects—elicit disgust among consumers, thereby preventing acceptance. While providing prospective consumers with more information on, for instance, the environmental benefits of lab-meat has shown some success in increasing consumer acceptance, we argue that the disgust response—the main barrier to the societal acceptance of these foods—is not addressed. This is, we argue, because disgust is not the result of misperceptions (e.g., edible insects carry diseases) and thus unlikely to be overcome by information alone. Building on the latest insights into the social origins of disgust, this manuscript reviews an alternative strategy to foster the broader acceptance of sustainable food alternatives that currently elicit disgust. Specifically, we explain why and how public exposure could be a promising avenue for marketers to reduce consumers’ disgust response and thus increase the acceptance of sustainable food alternatives.

What's eating North America's edible insect industry? An examination of psychological, cultural and regulatory barriers

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Christl Li ◽  
Sean B. Cash ◽  
Julie Lesnik ◽  
Timothy S. Griffin ◽  
Joel Mason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
The Us ◽  
Structural Barrier ◽  
Regulatory Barriers ◽  
Specific Regulation

Abstract Although research has demonstrated the positive nutritional value and environmental benefits associated with edible insect consumption, several factors challenge the growth and development of the edible insect industry for human consumption in the US and Canada. Cultural and psychological factors account for much of the aversion US and Canadian consumers display. The absence of specific regulation also constitutes a structural barrier to more widespread production and sale of edible insects. Compared to the US, the European Union has a more developed edible insect industry and has enacted legislation that removes some of the barriers. As consumer awareness of the putative health benefits of edible insects increases, more comprehensive regulations may emerge to keep pace with the growth of this industry. Overall, a multi-disciplinary approach that addresses both benefits and barriers to consumption is needed to facilitate a robust market for edible insects in the US and Canada.

Information and taste interventions for improving consumer acceptance of edible insects: a pilot study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
E. Woolf ◽  
C. Maya ◽  
J. Yoon ◽  
S. Shertukde ◽  
T. Toia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Protein Source ◽  
Consumer Acceptance ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Educational Session ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Insects As Food

Insects are a sustainable protein source with poor consumer acceptance in developed countries. An Eating Insects Conference and Tasting Demonstration was hosted with a goal of promoting consumption of edible insects. The event consisted of an educational session that provided information about entomophagy followed by a cooking and tasting demonstration of edible insects. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were conducted to assess the effect of the event on participants’ acceptance of entomophagy. Forty-three attendees completed the surveys. After attending the event, participants felt more knowledgeable about entomophagy, which positively correlated with willingness to consume edible insects. Participants who believed that entomophagy is sustainable were more willing to consume edible insects than those who did not. Although all participants consumed insects at the tasting demonstration, those with prior consumption experiences had significantly higher post-intervention willingness scores, indicating repeated exposures may be necessary for improving consumer acceptance of edible insects. The event raised awareness of using insects as food and provided useful information for developing effective interventions to promote insect consumption.

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